The technical side of Formula One is as interesting as the entertainment side. The Drag Reduction System, popularly known as DRS, was introduced in 2011. It is an adjustable rear wing on a Formula One car that a driver can activate using the DRS button on his steering wheel. This opens the flap in the rear wing.
This is done to increase the speed by reducing the aerodynamic drag while. It promotes overtaking and enhances wheel-to-wheel racing. The FIA rules and regulations state that for the DRS to be activated, the cars must be close to each other within one second. This helps the drivers overtake with extra speed assistance.
The 2010 Abu Dabi Grand Prix contributed to implementing DRS from 2011 onwards. The final race of 2010 determined the world champion that season. Fernando Alonso and Sebastian Vettel were in the championship contention. Unfortunately for Alonso, he was stuck behind Vitaly Petrov for most of the race and could not overtake him. This cost him the title. The DRS helps the cars overtake easily by reducing the downforce and drag.
What is DRS in F1?
Every race track has a DRS zone. When the driver is within one second of the car in front of him in this zone while racing, the DRS gets activated; this is done by pushing the switch on the steering wheel. It opens up the rear wing flap, and the driver gains straight-line speed. These activation zones are decided by the FIA, according to the regulations, ahead of the race.
The DRS cannot be used in case of a safety car restart red flag or the first two racing laps of the Grand Prix. Under certain circumstances, like heavy rain or a yellow flag, the DRS will be deactivated. This is up to the stewards’ Race directors to decide whether the racing condition will activate DRS. Different circuits have different DRS zones, which depend on their layout. For example, Bahrain has three DRS zones, and Monaco has one.
This is not automatic; the drivers have to push the button for it to be activated. Before 2011, there was no DRS system; the drivers did not have extra help with overtaking. Now, several gadgets help drivers go as fast as possible and make it easier.
How does DRS work in F1?
At the beginning of a race, the DRS wing is closed. Once the driver activates it, the wings open, reducing the aerodynamic drag. This, in turn, helps them with the airflow and aids overtaking. A sensor is placed on the tracks to confirm if the gap is one second or below one second. The drivers and teams receive a signal and can go ahead and enable the DRS to overtake efficiently.
While the DRS helps the drivers, there have been circumstances where it proved to be a headache. Max Verstappen, in the 2022 Spanish Grand Prix, could not overtake Lewis Hamilton’s teammate George Russell due to a DRS issue. Though Verstappen had a better pace, he could not get his DRS to work; in his words, he spammed the button 50 times, and it did not open. But it is not a major concern as the teams are well equipped to resolve this.
The DRS was implemented to make the races more entertaining for the fans. With more overtakes, there is more thrill and adrenaline rush. The aim was to make the race unpredictable, giving the attacking car a speed advantage. Formula One is constantly looking for ways to make it exhilarating. They even added an extra DRS zone to the Australian Grand Prix hosted by the Albert Park circuit in the 2023 season, which makes it four in total. The buzz keeps the fans hooked throughout the race weekend.
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